Old Weather Forum

Although accurate, as well as being cheaper and easier to make than most rifled artillery guns, the Parrott had a poor reputation for safety and they were shunned by many artillerists. At the end of 1862, Henry J. Hunt attempted to get the Parrott eliminated from the Army of the Potomac's inventory, preferring the 3-inch ordnance rifle. When the Parrott gun burst in battle, gunners would chip out the jagged parts and continue firing. In 1889, The New York Times called on the Ordnance Bureau of the War Department to discontinue use of the Parrott gun altogether, following a series of mishaps at the West Point training grounds.

At 3 the 100 Pdr. Parrott Rifle burst after the 16th discharge severely wounding Act. Ensign Edward Winnemore and Jas. Horton (B. M.) and slightly wounding Robt. Addleton (2nd C. P.) Richard Husted (lds) and Theodore Wannamatta (O.S.) The entire breech of the gun blew out of the wrought iron band leaving the chamber around 10 inches inside of the band - cutting through the deck plankshear waterways, and port-sil, breaking beam and fighting chock on the spar deck, and starting off three planks on port-side under the port side and breading the head of one timbers. At 3:40 A. A. Surgeon O'Callaghan Buchanan came on board from the USS Jackson to assist in taking care of the wounded. Communicated with the Admiral and informed him of the bursting of the gun.

At 10:45 Hove overboard the remaining part of the 100 Pdr. Par. rifle, the deck being weakened by the bursting of the gun.